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It's a workplace taboo. The topic of power is often swept under the office rug. Many eschew the idea that any differences in power, authority and responsibility exist at all. Rather, they prefer the idea that the workplace is democracy, where everyone has equal say and no one opinion matters more than another.

Unfortunately, this can lead to the abuse of power and power tripping by managers and employees alike.

Power tripping is when people advance their own interests at the expense of the common good. The power tripper benefits at the cost of others and the organization by taking advantage of the trust placed in them.

For example, if the boss uses the company expense account to fund a family trip to Maui, he is using his position to gain personally.

Whether it's financial gain, perks or an ego boost at another's expense, power tripping takes a toll. Staff withdraw and disengage when power tripping occurs. They feel disenchanted, angry and, in some cases, copy the behaviour.

Anyone can be a power tripper. While it seems obvious managers can power trip easily because they have more control, staff can wield power too.

According to researchers, Katherine DeCelles, at the University of Toronto, Scott DeRue, at the University of Michigan, Joshua Margolis, at Harvard Business School and Tara Ceranic, at the University of San Diego, you can feel powerful without being the manager, or in charge.

For example, one worker felt powerful because she had a specialized knowledge base. As an IT expert, she used her knowledge and expertise to feel superior to others. As a result, she came across as arrogant, patronizing and condescending when interacting with colleagues.

The researchers, whose study appeared recently in the Journal of Applied Psychology, observed that workers with a low moral identity tend to power trip more than colleagues

with a higher moral identity.

Moral identity refers to the degree to which one's self concept is tied to demonstrating values such as kindness, fairness, honesty or helpfulness.

There are four ways to handle the power tripper:

REPORT STEALING

If you know of stealing or the misuse of company property, report what you know to your supervisor. You can be anonymous, but let someone know. If it's the supervisor abusing their position, talk to his or her supervisor.

TALK TO THE OFFENDER

Talking privately with the power tripper can help. For example, the IT expert didn't realize the effect of her ego-boosting behaviour. When a colleague told her that no one wanted to come to ask her a question because of the arrogant response, she changed.

CHECK OTHERS' MORAL IDENTITY

A sales agent who worked on a team would give leads to his chosen few. When a fellow team member broached the topic, saying the way he referred prospects wasn't fair, he replied when she made as much money as he did, he'd listen, but until then, she should forget being part of the inner circle.

Knowing that it was a waste of time trying to discuss the issue freed her up to find her own leads.

ORGANIZATIONAL

Discussing how people use power is important. Making staff aware of the tendency to power trip if one isn't connected to one's own values or the company's creed, is key.

If there is a discrepancy between what a staff member values and what the company stands for, that discrepancy should be discussed. So too, should intervening when power trip-ping occurs.

Dr. Jennifer Newman is a registered psychologist. She can be reached at info@drjennifernew-man.com Identifying information in cases cited has been changed to protect confidentiality.

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